Four Sites Lead Pack To Become Home To Shelter

Four sites have emerged as front-runners in Broward County's long-stalled attempt to build its first homeless shelter.

A panel of county appointees picked the four spots from among nine submitted by private property owners.

The committee will study the four this month, then send a report to a public hearing by Broward's 27-member homeless task force, committee members said. The final decision rests with the County Commission.

Broward and Fort Lauderdale have been hunting for a shelter location for 18 months, but rejected a series of potential spots.

-- Two acres in 500 block of Northeast Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale. Owner Dixie South Land Development (Parker family) is asking $1.15 million.

County officials said they also would study Fort Lauderdale's offer to build a shelter on the site of the city's ramshackle tent camp at 100 N. Andrews Ave., where 100 or more homeless people now stay.